Planting Art Roots in Miami

Photography by John Lin ; PHOTOS: Rodrigo Gaya on September 20th, 2013 in Lifestyle

Terence Riley & Thom Collins

Miami, FL – September 20, 2013 – The second annual DWNTWN art days consisted of more than 125 events last weekend, bringing together inspiring art and cultural experiences to Miami’s revitalized Downtown. There were walking tours, artist openings, creative happy hours and undoubtedly one of the most anticipated panel discussions between Thom Collins, director of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), and Terence Riley, former director of the Miami Art Museum (MAM) and Principal of Keenan Riley Architects, on the unique features of the new museum’s design by Pritzker Prize winning architects Herzog and de Meuron.

Thom Collins & Terence Riley

The evening began with an outdoor cocktail reception at the Arsht Center, with more than 100 people enjoying Grey Goose cocktails and canapés. It was a packed house full of art and cultural luminaries, including art maven Myra Wexler, Miami Herald journalist Lydia Martin, PAMM’s Leann Standish, artist George Sanchez-Calderon and Sarah Harrelson, the publisher of Cultured Magazine, whom sponsored the conversation.

Inside the Peacock Studio, the conversation opened with an introduction of both Collins and Riley’s backgrounds and astounding accomplishments. Riley was previously the Chief Curator of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in N.Y.C., including overseeing the expansion. He has organized exhibitions on Rem Koolhaas, Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe. He was chosen by the board of the MAM to lead it through the design phase and the architecture selection committee. Collins is an art educator and author, and in August 2010, he was named the new director of the MAM, now known as PAMM. Before moving to Miami, he was the Director of the Neuberger Museum of Art in NY and the Director of the Contemporary Museum in Baltimore and Chief Curator of the Contemporary Art Center in Cincinnati, designed by world-famous architect and Pritzker Prize winner, Zaha Hadid.

Thom Collins & Terence Riley

Collins and Riley have known each other for years, having both worked at the MOMA together, and their mutual admiration shined through during the talk. The discussion turned to the unique status that Herzog & de Meuron has amongst architects because they grew up around museums, work with artists and design their studios, so they know the goals of a contemporary museum. They understand that the new building needs to serve the community and foster the arts and culture in Miami.

The most notable aspect of the museum is that education is at the heart of its programming. By choosing Herzog & de Meuron, they made a leap and transformed the main auditorium inside into the main staircase, reminiscent of the old world Spanish steps, where people gathered to eat, drink, and write. This staircase is both functional and architecturally stunning, connecting the upper and lower levels of the museum. People will be able to come and learn, study and admire video and lectures from leading artists and academics in the main auditorium. This will, without a doubt, be leading the revitalization of Downtown Miami.

As Art Basel in Miami Beach approaches this year, the world will be looking to Collins as he prepares to open the museum and specifically what he and his team have worked on to fill up the immense galleries throughout the building. After conducting more than 214 tours of the space, Collins is no stranger to Miami or the new building. Miami was lucky enough to have the guidance and knowledge of Riley to spearhead the project, and blessed to have Collins prepare the project for its unveiling in December.